Starting a catering business is an exciting way to turn your love for food into a thriving company. With the right planning and resources, you can go from cooking for friends to booking weddings, corporate events, and more.
At The Food Corridor, we’ve helped thousands of food entrepreneurs launch and scale their businesses. If you’re ready to start your own catering venture, here’s your roadmap—plus tools and resources to help you every step of the way.
Step 1: Define Your Catering Concept
Before you dive in, get clear on your focus:
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Will you serve corporate events, weddings, or private dinners?
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Do you specialize in BBQ, vegan, global cuisines, or seasonal menus?
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Are you aiming for affordable buffets or high-end plated service?
Your niche will guide your marketing and help you stand out.
💡 Resource: Shared Kitchen Industry Overview
Step 2: Handle Licensing and Compliance
Caterers need to cook out of a licensed commercial kitchen. Health departments typically don’t approve home kitchens. You’ll also need:
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Food service permits
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Business licenses
💡 Resource: Business Incubation Programs Guide
Step 3: Secure Kitchen Space
Shared-use kitchens are a cost-effective way to launch catering operations. They provide certified space, professional equipment, and often, built-in business support.
👉 Find space near you with KitchenDoor.
Step 4: Craft Your Menu and Pricing
Start with a focused menu of reliable, scalable dishes. Build your pricing to include:
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Ingredients + labor
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Kitchen rental time
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Delivery, setup, and staff costs
💡 Pro tip: Offer tiered packages (basic, premium, deluxe) to appeal to different budgets.
Step 5: Protect Your Business with Insurance
Most kitchens and venues will require liability coverage. It’s a must-have to protect your business.
💡 Resource: Insurance Options via The Food Corridor
Step 6: Build Your Brand and Online Presence
Today’s clients expect to find you online. Build a website that includes:
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Service details and menus
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Inquiry and booking forms
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High-quality photos of your food
Recommended Platforms:
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Squarespace or Wix – easy website builders with catering templates.
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Shopify – scalable if you want integrated ordering and payments.
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GloriaFood – free ordering system tailored for restaurants and caterers.
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HoneyBook or Dubsado – client management + contracts + payments.
Step 7: Go-to-Market Strategies
Launching your catering business is all about visibility. Try these proven approaches:
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Word-of-mouth marketing – Start with family, friends, and local community events.
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Networking with venues and planners – Partner with wedding planners, event venues, and corporate offices to get on their preferred vendor lists.
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Social media presence – Share behind-the-scenes prep, customer reviews, and event setups. Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook are your best platforms.
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Sampling events – Offer tastings at farmers markets, community festivals, or local business mixers.
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Local directories – List your business on Google Business Profile, Yelp, and Thumbtack to capture local searches.
Step 8: Find Your First Gigs
Securing those first jobs can feel tricky, but here’s where to start:
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Offer discounted catering for a nonprofit or community event to build portfolio photos.
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Pitch local corporate offices for lunch services or holiday parties.
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Connect with wedding planners and event coordinators—they’re constant referral sources.
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Build relationships with shared kitchens or incubators; many refer catering leads to their members.
💡 Resource: Kitchen & Business Incubation Programs
Step 9: Plan for Growth
Once you’ve catered a few successful events, think ahead:
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Add part-time staff.
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Explore co-packing or batch production for specialty items.
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Expand into wholesale or delivery.
Final Thoughts
Starting a catering business requires more than great recipes. With the right kitchen space, compliance, insurance, and go-to-market plan, you can confidently book clients and scale.
At The Food Corridor, our mission is to make that journey easier. Through KitchenDoor, you can find the commercial kitchen space you need to launch and grow.
👉 Ready to start your catering business? Explore kitchens near you today.
